- Robert Harpur
Robert Harpur (
January 25 ,1731 Ballybay ,County Monaghan ,Ireland - 1825) was an American teacher, politician, pioneer, and landowner who settled in theBinghamton, New York area.Life
He came to the colonies in 1761 via
Scotland . He was a teacher atColumbia University (known then as Kings College) and served in various capacities in the Colonial government during theAmerican Revolution .He was a member of the
New York State Assembly from 1777 to 1784. He was Deputy Secretary of State underJohn Morin Scott andLewis Allaire Scott from 1778 to 1795.Legacy
Harpursville, New York in Eastern
Broome County, New York was named after him. Additionally, Harpur College, nowBinghamton University was also named for him.Classical names used in New York
While Harpur worked as a Clerk in the office of the New York State Surveyor General, he has been credited with assigning the numerous classical names to locations in the
Central New York Military Tract , now in Cayuga County, Cortland County, Onondaga County, and Seneca County. In some cases, it is not entirely clear to which classical person, the name was referring.The Surveyor General
Simeon DeWitt has also been credited with the assignment of these classical names.See also
*
Colesville, New York References
*Herbert, Anne T., 2003, "Robert Harpur's New York", Broome County Historical Society.
External links
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/colesville-ny.htm Early history of Colesville, NY]
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